Filed under: Car Buying , Truck , Work , Ford , GM , Honda , Hummer , Nissan , Toyota , Ram PickupTrucks.com has taken another look at the sales of its favorite vehicle bodystyle as part of an ongoing series . According to registration data from R.L. Polk, the Toyota Tacoma easily took the crown as America’s best-selling mid-sized pickup, with 133,477 units rolling into new homes in 2012. For comparison, the second-place Nissan Frontier only saw 50,566 registrations. We feel compelled to point out that before Ford pulled the plug on its ancient Ranger , the company was moving some 75,000 units per year. That number had shriveled to 15,662 by 2012, which was still enough to surpass the Honda Ridgeline . Interestingly enough, one person brought home a brand-new Hummer H3T as well. But mid-sized trucks represent only a fraction of total pickup sales. Dealers sold a total of 241,471 midsizers last year compared to 988,326 half-tons. That segment was dominated by General Motors with 533,814 sales followed by Ford at 478,204.

Filed under: Concept Cars , Toyota , Design/Style , Electric Toyota is taking the tiny tandem Tango to Tron town. In a teaser video for the new i-Road , debuting at the Geneva Motor Show next week, we catch a light-bike-like glimpse of Toyota’s quirky tandem-seat concept. We still don’t know much about the vehicle itself, but the video does flash the words “fun, compact, emissions-free,” which suggests this is an electric ride. Then comes the apparent tagline: “i Roll, i Rock i Road.” An indication that the tilting image we see in the video isn’t just a special effect, perhaps? We’ll have to wait until we get to Switzerland next week to find out. Until then, you can watch the video below . In more earthly reveals, Toyota will also show off its hotly anticipate FT-86 Open sports car concept and Auris Touring Sports wagon on its Geneva show stand. Continue reading Toyota sizzle reel gives better look at i-Road Geneva concept Toyota sizzle reel gives better look at i-Road Geneva concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Filed under: Sedan , Toyota , South Korea The 2013 Toyota Camry is officially the car of the year in Korea . The country’s motoring press graced the Japanese sedan with the honor for the first time, officially marking a shift in prevailing Korean attitudes toward Japan and its products. According to industry analysts, buyers in the country are no longer simply choosing their purchases based on whether or not they’re made in South Korea, but rather based on quality and personal choice. That’s a big jump from a few years ago, when buyers viewed their purchases through a patriotic lens. The Camry managed to edge out a total of 44 other cars, including hardware from both Hyundai and Kia , to become the first foreign vehicle to take home the Korea Automobile Journalist Association’s Car of the Year award. As The Detroit News points out, just 10 years ago, domestic manufacturers held some 99 percent of the Korean car market. But a change in trade regulations has opened up the country considerably, and buyers now have access to a wide range of products from around the globe. As a result, Hyundai and Kia have countered by cutting prices in an attempt to keep their grip on the market. Why Toyota Camry’s Korea Car of the Year win is a big-time upset originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .

Filed under: Hybrid , Recalls , Safety , Hatchback , Toyota The Detroit News is reporting that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will investigate some 561,000 Toyota Prius models for potentially defective steering shafts. The affected hybrid models are from the 2004-2009 model years. The story indicates that NHTSA is weighing whether or not to grant a defect petition, which claims that Toyota incorrectly assembled the hatchback’s steering linkage. As of this writing, there is no recall. However, a recall based on the Prius steering shaft would be the third related to steering issues for the model since 2006. Seven years ago, Toyota recalled 170K Prius models for potential cracking of the intermediate shafts, and in November of 2012, the automaker recalled 670K units to replace the steering shaft extension assembly. We’ll be monitoring NHTSA’s signals to see if this investigation turns into a full-fledged recall. For now, stay tuned. NHTSA investigating 561k Toyota Prius hybrids for possible steering shaft defect originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .

Following the introduction of the all-new seventh-generation Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid for 2012, these midsize sedans enter the 2013 model year gaining enhancements to interior design and comfort and safety technology.

Filed under: Etc. , Technology , Audi , Toyota MIT Technology Review , a magazine all about innovation, has announced its list of the 50 most disruptive companies in 2013, and both Audi and Toyota made the cut. While the term “most disruptive” may carry a negative connotation in most uses (especially in the classroom), the acknowledgement in this case is an accolade, signifying that the company is at the forefront of its industry. In a nutshell, a disruptive company is a business whose innovations force other businesses to alter their strategic direction. Audi made the list for “pushing autonomous cars closer to fruition with a laser-scanning road detector that fits in a vehicle’s front grille,” and Toyota for “expanding its dominance of the hybrid-car market with its new plug-in version of the Prius.” Click on the image above to be taken to the original graphic at MIT Technology Review , where clickable colored squares reveal information about each of the 50 winners, compiled from a variety of industries. Audi, Toyota land on MIT’s list of 50 Most Disruptive Companies originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 23 Feb 2013 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Filed under: Etc. , Acura , BMW , Buick , Chevrolet , Ford , Honda , Hyundai , Subaru , Toyota The U.S. News Best Cars for the Money Awards picks winners by looking at the average transaction price, five-year total cost of ownership, the regard a car has from the automotive press, reliability figures from J.D. Power and Associates and safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety . The result, according to the magazine, is “the best combination of critical acclaim and long-term value.” Ford nabbed six of the 21 categories that received awards this year, the Focus , Fusion , Fusion Hybrid , Taurus , Escape and Edge getting trophies. Toyota and its Lexus and Scion sub-brands took another five, the Tacoma and Tundra owning the two categories given to pickup trucks. The other ten awards were split between Honda with three, Buick with two, and one each for Subaru , BMW , Hyundai , Chevrolet and Mazda . Follow the link to see all the winners and read about why they were chosen. Ford, Toyota clean up in Best Car For The Money Awards originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .